What causes motion sickness? What to eat when you get motion sickness? Tips to prevent motion sickness

Nowadays, cars are almost indispensable for traveling. Cars have become one of the most important means of transportation in people's daily lives. However, some people are very prone to motion sickness. They feel nauseous and uncomfortable as soon as they get on the car. So, do you know why people get motion sickness? What are the causes of motion sickness? What should you eat when you are motion sick? The following Encyclopedia Knowledge Network will explain the relevant knowledge about motion sickness in detail.

What causes motion sickness?

The human ear is divided into three parts: the inner ear, the middle ear, and the outer ear. The vestibular organ in the inner ear can sense the stimulation of various specific motion states and has the ability to regulate the body's balance. It is connected to the central nervous system through the vestibular nerve. When the vehicle we are riding rotates or turns, or when the car starts, accelerates, decelerates, brakes, shakes, bumps, and when the elevator and the plane take off and land, people often change their body positions irregularly, which stimulates the vestibular organ in the inner ear and produces excessive bioelectricity, which in turn affects the nerve center and causes local dysfunction of the body, resulting in symptoms such as cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. However, everyone has a limit to their tolerance to the intensity and duration of these stimuli. This limit is the dizziness threshold. Within a certain limit and time, people will not have adverse reactions. If the stimulation exceeds this limit, motion sickness symptoms will appear. The reason why different people have different tolerances is not only related to genetic factors, but also affected by factors such as vision, individual physique, mental state, and objective environment (such as air odor). Therefore, under the same objective conditions, not everyone will get carsick.

Now, scientists have found that motion sickness is also affected by the infrasound waves generated by vehicles. Infrasound waves refer to sound waves with a vibration frequency of less than 20 Hz, which is lower than the frequency range that the human ear can hear. The motion sickness of ordinary people is caused by infrasound waves that vibrate 2 to 20 times per second (i.e. 2 to 20 Hz).

In a small space like a car or a boat, the range of motion is not large, so why do people get motion sickness? If there are some abnormal sensations or some special circumstances during the movement, then there will be motion sickness. For example, if you feel uncomfortable in the car, or the air around you is not good, or if you often encounter some complex traffic conditions during the movement, then there will be some frequent stimulation to the vestibule. If it exceeds the tolerance limit, then there will be some motion sickness symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Causes of motion sickness - external factors

1. When the incoming balance stimulation is too strong, such as sudden braking or violent rotation, people will feel dizzy even when the balance system is safe and normal. This is a normal physiological phenomenon. However, some people have poor tolerance and react strongly to slight balance stimulation.

2. It is easy to occur when you have poor sleep or are overworked.

3. It is also easy to occur when you are too hungry or too full.

4. It may occur when suffering from certain ear diseases.

5. The car compartment is sealed so that the air cannot circulate, or there is irritation from the smell of certain substances, such as gasoline.

6. When seeing a car, a serious conditioned reflex is formed, and carsickness will occur when seeing or thinking about a car (especially a bus).

Causes of motion sickness - internal causes

7. Individual sensitivity varies.

8. Psychological reasons.

9. Lack of vitamin B1

What to eat when you get motion sickness ?

1. Pickled mustard tuber

Zhacai has good color, aroma and taste. Many people like to eat it with meals, and some people like to take one or two bags of it with them when traveling. Firstly, Zhacai is refreshing and appetizing, which can relieve travel fatigue; secondly, Zhacai can relieve motion sickness symptoms such as dizziness and shortness of breath when riding in a car. Some people even call Zhacai "natural motion sickness relieving agent".

2. Orange peel

One hour before getting on the bus, place the surface of a fresh orange peel facing outwards and facing the car inwards. Then aim it at your nostrils and squeeze it with two fingers. The peel will then spray out an aromatic oil mist that can suppress symptoms of motion sickness and nausea.

3. Ginger

Put fresh ginger slices in a small plastic bag and put it under your nostrils to smell it when you are riding in a car. Ginger can prevent motion sickness because it can absorb stomach acid and prevent nausea.

4. Lemon and olives

In the early stages of motion sickness, excess saliva is produced, which drips into the stomach and causes nausea. Olives and lemons can produce tannic acid, which dries out the mouth. Therefore, eating olives or lemons at the first sign of nausea can help eliminate nausea.

Tips for preventing motion sickness

1. For those who suffer from motion sickness, apply the Motion Sickness Patch on the liver navel one hour before riding. If riding for more than one day, change to another patch the next day. It can effectively prevent motion sickness.

2. Tighten your belt before getting on the car to prevent your internal organs from moving excessively in the body, which will help prevent motion sickness.

3. People who are prone to motion sickness should carry a piece of fresh ginger with them. They can chew two slices of fresh ginger before getting on the bus. This will greatly reduce motion sickness.

4. Don't be nervous, stay relaxed, and don't think about getting dizzy all the time. It's best to find someone to chat with you to distract yourself.

5. Get enough sleep before traveling. Sufficient sleep will make you energetic and improve your ability to resist sports stimulation.

6. Do not be too hungry or too full when riding in public transportation. Eat only until you are 70% to 80% full, especially avoid high-protein and high-fat foods, otherwise you will easily experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

7. Try to sit in a relatively stable seat that is in the same direction as the vehicle and keep the air flowing.

8. Keep the head properly fixed to avoid excessive shaking.

9. Take motion sickness medicine half an hour before boarding public transportation.